Jackson, bullpen extend Indians' offensive futility

In the home team's locker room, the Cleveland Indians needed some privacy after another brutal loss.

It wasn't until 42 minutes after Jackson and two relievers combined to shut out Cleveland 4-0 Saturday night that the doors to Cleveland's clubhouse were opened to reporters.

"If we wanted you guys to know [what was said], we would have invited you in," Cleveland closer Kerry Wood said of the Indians' players-only meeting.

"It's not because we're playing well," Wood added.

The Indians have not scored in 19 innings -- since the eighth inning of a 13-3 loss Thursday in Boston. They got only two hits Friday night off Justin Verlander in a 1-0 loss and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position Saturday.

"We can't keep playing the game with this type of inconsistency," said an annoyed Cleveland manager Eric Wedge as he met the media in an outer concourse. Ordinarily, Wedge's postgame comments are made in his office.

Cleveland, expected to contend for the AL Central title, lost for the sixth time in eight games to fall to 10-20.

"You can't let it get in your head and start to snowball," Wedge said.

Jackson (2-2) used that philosophy to bounce back from his worst start of the season, when he allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings Monday in a 7-2 loss to Minnesota.

"I get a good feel for a team after following Verlander, but I still have to out and make my pitches," Jackson said after striking out seven and allowing only five hits and one walk over seven innings.

"He had a good breaking ball and changeup," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of the 25-year-old right-hander.

"He's got a great arm. When he pounds the strike zone, with the stuff he has, he's good."

Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (1-4) gave up two runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out four.

Carmona matched Jackson until walking Curtis Granderson and Jeff Larish to start the seventh. Brandon Inge bunted the runners to second and third and Granderson scored on Gerald Laird's groundout to shortstop to break up a scoreless game.

"Brandon had the green light for one pitch, then I thought about the way the game was going and figured I'd try to more the runners ahead to see if we could get a run," Leyland said.

Ramon Santiago then hit sharp grounder between Carmona's legs and into center field to score Larish from third to make it 2-0.

The Indians went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and are hitting only .239 (73-for-308) this season in that situation.

The Indians put the first two men on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Dave Dellucci twice failed to put down a sacrifice bunt. After fouling off two attempts, he lined into a double play. Third baseman Inge caught the ball and Choo, who had strayed off second, was easily doubled off.

"We have to execute," Wedge said. "Each individual had to take pride in what he's doing."

Cleveland reliever Rafael Betancourt yielded three hits and two runs in the eighth. Larish had an RBI triple and scored on Inge's single off the left-field wall to make it 4-0.

The Indians' bullpen now has a 6.68 ERA, second-worst in the AL.

"It's not just the bullpen, the starting pitching, the defense or the offense," Wedge said. "It's different things on different days. We need every area on our club to click."

Carmona fell to 6-3 in his career against the Tigers. He lost for the first time against them at Progressive Field, where he is now 3-1 against Detroit.

Notes

Indians CF Grady Sizemore's sixth-inning single snapped an 0-for-11 streak and 3-for-26 (.115) slump. He then was caught stealing for the fifth time in 10 attempts. A year ago, Sizemore went 38-for-43 in steal tries.

Granderson went 1-for-1 with two walks off Carmona, improving his career average against the right-hander to .444 (12-for-27).

Indians SS Jhonny Peralta, in an 8-for-63 (.127) slump, didn't play for the second straight game. Peralta is 1 for 15 with six strikeouts in his last four home games against Detroit.

Indians C Victor Martinez went 1-for-4 and has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games. He has hit .406 (28-for-69) over that span.

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